Shoe repair machine construction



Dec. 25, 1962 Filed Feb. 14, 1961 L. M. HARPER SHOE REPAIR MACHINE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet J:

INVENTOR. La/zz/ren/Mlfwzywer ATTORNEYS Dec. 25, 1962 L. M. HARPER 3,069,707

SHOE REPAIR MACHINE CONSTRUCTION FilGd Feb. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Law/ran MEG/17981 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oilfice 3,llh9,77 Patented Dec, 25, 1962 3,069,707 SHQE REPAIR MA CHINE CONSTRUCTION Lauren M. Harper, 2%)5Haziett Ava, anton, Ohio Filed Feb. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 89,307 12 Claims. (Cl. 1250.5)

My invention relates to improvements in shoe repair machine construction, and more specifically to a shoe repair machine for removing and also preferably installing heel lifts on womens so-called spike heeled shoes. Even more specifically, my invention relates to an improved shoe repair machine primarily useable for removing not only the worn heel lift, but also the long spike which attaches the lift to the shoe heel, from womens spike heeled shoes, which machine preferably may also be constructed to be used for remounting the new assembled lift and spike on the heel.

Prior to the advent of the modern womens spike heeled shoes, most of the heel lifts, whether formed from leather, rubber or one of the modern plastics, have been retained on the shoe heel merely in the conventional manner by the use of a series of small nails driven through the lift and into the heel. These nails, of course, have had extremely small cross-sections and are relatively short in length so that the removal of these nails and a worn lift had been relatively simple, as was the application of a new lift.

Since the advent of the modern spike heeled shoes, however, the lower surface of the shoe heel to which the lift is applied has become extremely small in cross-section, providing a small surface upon which is mounted commensurately small lift. As a result, it is impossible to retain a lift on such heels in the old conventional manner, that is, with a series of small nails, so that the heel lifts for these modern spike heeled shoes are formed assembled with or molded around a long, relatively large cross-section spike, which spike extends or penetrates into nearly the full height of the shoe heel.

Once the heel lift becomes worn to an extent where replacement is necessary, it is relatively simple to remove the lift itself merely by stripping the lift from the head portion of the long spike which is retaining the lift in place. The difficulty, however, is how to remove the long spike itself without damaging the shoe or shoe heel.

In most cases, even though it might be possible to somehow hold the shoe without damage thereto, it is virtually impossible to remove the spike by the use of the conventional hand pliers or other tools normally used by shoe repairmen. Furthermore, it is usually impossible to remount a new lift and spike assembly which, of course, requires re-insertion of the spike into the heel, without damaging, if not completely destroying, all usefulness of the lift, since the pressure for inserting the spike must be applied against this lift and heretofore could only be exerted by the usual hammers, mallets or the like.

It has, therefore, become a problem in the shoe repair industry as to just how this heel lift and spike removal, as well as the remounting thereof, can be accomplished. Furthermore, even though in some cases the operation could be accomplished by hand with the usual shoe repair tools, it has been extremely ditficult to carry out this operation without causing extensive damage to at least the appearance of the shoes.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a shoe repair machine construction which solves the foregoing problems in a simple and efficient manner.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a shoe repair machine construction which may be used for easily and conveniently removing the heel lifts and retaining spikes from womens spike heeled shoes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe repair machine construction which preferably may not only be used for removing the heel lifts and retaining spike from womens spike heeled shoes, but may also be used for remounting a new retaining spike therein and new heel lift thereon without damage to the shoe or the assembled heel lift and retaining spike.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe repair machine construction which satisfies the foregoing objects in a simple and efiicient manner, yet the machine construction may be provided at a minimum of expense.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of Which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

in general terms, the shoe repair machine construction comprising the present invention may be stated as including means for holding and retaining the spike heel of a spike heeled shoe with the heel lift mounting portion thereof exposed, and selectively operable gripping and pulling means for gripping at least the retaining spike protruding from the heel and movably pulling said spike from holding engagement in the heel.

Further, the shoe repair machine construction may preferably include means formed at least partially by the gripping and pulling means selectively operable for inserting a new retaining spike in the shoe heel while the shoe heel is held by the holding and retaining means, to thereby assemble a new heel lift and retaining spike assembly on the heel.

More specifically, the holding and retaining means may include a holding member having a specifically contoured heel opening formed therethrough with the side Walls of the opening preferably being padded for receiving a shoe heel therein with the lift mounting portion of the heel exposed. r Further, the holding and retaining means may include a retaining member having a retaining surface engageable with a portion of the shoe heel substantially opposite from the lift mounting portion thereof so that the retaining member will oppose forces directed toward the lift mounting portion of the heel and retain the heel in the holding member.

Also more specifically, the gripping and pulling means may include a gripping member movable toward and away from the lift mounting portion of the heel, which gripping member may be selectively engaged with at least the retaining spike inserted in the heel for removal of this retaining spike upon movement of this gripping member away from the lift mounting portion of the heel. In addition, the gripping and pulling means may include a pulling member operably connected to the gripping member for selectively moving the gripping member toward and away from the lift mounting portion of the heel to accomplish the foregoing pulling operation.

Finally more specifically, inserting means: may be provided on the pulling member engageable with the lift of a new lift and retaining spike assembly for inserting the new retaining spike into the shoe heel and thereby mounting a new lift on the lift mounting portion of the heel upon movement of the pulling means toward the lift mounting portion of the heel and while the heel is retained against movement by the holding member and retaining member. This inserting means may be a surface formed on pulling member exposed by removal or pivotal of holding member 23 to a small opening at 8) movement of the gripping member, or may be an anvil member selectively operably connected to the pulling member upon said removal or pivotal movement of the gripping member.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improved shoe repair machine construction of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the embodiment of the shoe repair machine construction;

FIG. 2, a side elevation of the machine construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a top plan view of the machine construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the machine holding member looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, a front elevation of the holding member of the FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7, a sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 77 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8, an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the operating portion of the machine construction showing the machine construction in operating position ready for the removal of a lift retaining spike from a shoe heel;

FIG. 9, a View similar to FIG. 8 but with the lift retaining spike substantially removed from the shoe heel;

FIG. 10, a view similar to FIG. 8 but with the machine gripping member pivoted to inoperative position and the machine construction ready for the insertion of a new retaining spike with assembled heel lift into the shoe heel;

FIG. 11, an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of the machine pulling member having an anvil member mounted thereon for use in the operation of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12, an enlarged perspective view showing the anvil member of FIG. 11 separate from the pulling member;

FIG. 13, an enlarged perspective view showing an assembled retaining spike and heel lift; and

FIG. 14, a side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, showing a shoe and shoe heel of the type for receiving the retaining spike and heel lift assembly of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the shoe repair machine construction of the present invention includes a usual supporting stand, generally indicated at 26, having a base 21 and an upright member 22 upon which is mounted the holding member 23 forming a part of the shoe heel holding and retaining means. Holding member 23 is in the form of a generally horizontally extending platform supported at the upper end of the upright member 22 in a usual manner.

The holding member 23 is provided with a generally vertically extending heel opening 24 formed therethrough spaced forwardly of the upright member 22. This heel opening 24 is a contoured opening, as shown for instance in FIGS. 4 through 7, having side wall surfaces 25 tapering arcuately from a larger opening at the lower portion the upper portion thereof, and with this opening also opening forwardly through the lower portion of holding member 23.

As is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 10, this heel opening 24 is contoured in proper shape for receiving the inverted heel 26 of a womans spike heeled shoe 2'] therethrough from the lower portion of holding portion 23 upwardly through heel opening 24, with the lift mounting portion 2% of heel 26 exposed above the upper portion of holding member 23. Furthermore, usual padding 29 may be mounted on the side wall surfaces 25 of heel opening 24 for protecting heel 26 during the operation of the machine construction.

Thus, as can be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the heel opening 24 through holding member 23 is contoured to substantially conform to the usual spike heel 26, so that by holding a shoe 27 in an inverted position below holding member 23 and extending forwardly with reference to this holding member, the heel 26 thereof may be inserted upwardly through the heel opening 24 of the holding member until portions of the heel engage the side wall surfaces 25 of this heel opening. In this position, as shown, the lift mounting portion 28 of heel 26 extends above the holding member 23 and the heel 26 remains engaged against further upward movement merely by retaining an upward retaining force on heel 26. Also, the shoe 27 to which heel 26 is attached may extend forwardly from holding member 23 and the heel opening 24 therein.

A vertically reciprocally mounted retaining member 30, which also forms a part of the shoe heel holding and retaining means, is positioned below the holding member 23 vertically slidably received through the guide members 31 and 32 which are mounted vertically spaced on the upright member 22. Retaining member 3-0 may be generally rod-like and is straight in its lower portion 33 for vertically slidable movement through the guide members 31 and 32, but is formed with an angled portion 34 terminating upwardly in an offset portion 35 at its upper end.

Furthermore, a generally horizontally extending handle 36 is mounted on the retaining member 3d at the lower termination of the angled portion 34. Thus, the retaining member 31 when slidably received in the guide members 31 and 32, may only move downwardly until the handle 36 engages guide member 31, but may be selectively moved vertically upwardly toward the holding member 23.

A rack and pawl arrangement is provided for securing the retaining member 3t) in any desired vertical position by the pawl 37 pivotally mounted on guide member 31 selectively engageable with the rack 33 formed on the retaining member lower portion 33, as shown. Thus, the retaining member 30 may be moved upwardly to a desired vertical postion and retained in such position by engagement of the pawl 37 with the rack 38, and the retaining member may be released and moved downwardly merely by releasing this rack and pawl holding means.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 through 10; the particular shape of retaining member 30 positions the offset portion 35 thereof substantially vertically aligned with the heel opening 24 of holding member 23 so that a retaining surface 39 is formed by the upper extremity of the offset portion 35. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, this retaining surface 39 may be selectively moved upwardly to engage the lower portion of the heel 26 of shoe 27 when this heel and shoe are positioned with the heel extending upwardly through heel opening 24 of holding member 23 and engaged with the heel opening side wall surfaces 25.

In view of the engagement of pawl 37 with the rack 38 maintaining the retaining member 30 in a selected position, with this retaining surface 39 engaged against the heel 26, this heel is securely retained in the heel opening 24 of holding member 23. Furthermore, holding member 23 will resist any further upward movement of heel 26 and retaining member 30 will resist any downward movement of heel 26.

The gripping and pulling means of the shoe repair machine construction of the present invention is formed by the vertically reciprocal pulling member 40 and the tong-like gripping member 41. Pulling member 40 is selectively vertically reciprocally mounted in a usual frame 42, which frame may be mounted on the upper surface of the holding member 23 rearward of heel opening 24, as shown.

Pulling member 40 i mounted vertically overlying and substantially vertically aligned with the heel opening 24 of holding member 23. Furthermore, pulling member 40 is selectively movable vertically upwardly and downwardly in frame 42 by usual linkage 43 pivotally connected to pulling member as and to a handle 44- with handle 44 being pivotally mounted on frame 42 in usual manner.

Thus, in the particular embodiment shown, upward pivotal movement of handle ddmoves the pulling member ft) upwardly and away from the holding member 23. Furthermore downward movement of handle 44 moves the pulling member downwardly toward holding member 23.

The gripping member 41 is pivotally mounted at the lower end 45 of pulling member at with this gripping member being formed by the usual crossed, pivotally connected tong members 46 pivotally connected to the lower ends of the connecting links 47. The upper ends of connecting ends 47 are in turn pivotally connected to the pulling member as within the downwardly opening slot 45 formed in the pulling member lower end 45, as shown, for instance, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 through 11.

With the particular arrangement of gripping member 41 shown, an upward force on the connecting links 47 will cause the tong members 4 6 to pivotally close, thereby gripping anything positioned therebetween, whereas a downward force on the links 47 will cause the tong member 46 to open. With this arrangement, tong members 46 will automatically close and grip upon upward movement of the pulling member an caused by an upward force on the handle 44-. Furthermore, this upward move ment of pulling member to will move the gripping member 41 upwardly away from the holding member 23 after the tong members 46 have closed to gripping position.

As previously stated, the gripping member connecting links 27 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the lower end .5 of pulling member 4d within the slot 48 and are thereby pivotally connected to the pulling member at spaced upwardly from the lower end surface 49 of the pulling member. In view of this particular form of connection between pulling member 40 and gripping member 41, the gripping member may be pivoted upwardly with reference to pulling member 41 to a position substantially free of overlying the heel opening 24 of holding member 23, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, thereby exposing the lower end surface 49 of pulling member iii directly overlying the heel opening 24.

Gripping member 41 may be retained in this inoperative position by any usual engagement means and in the particular embodiment shown may be retained by the engagement spring As shown, the upper end of engagement spring 5t; may be secured to the frame 42 and the hook portion 51 may be formed at the lower end thereof for being received over one of the gripping tong members 46.

With the pulling member lower end surface 49 thusly exposed, this lower end surface may thereby serve as inserting means for re-inserting a new spike 52 of a new spike and lift assembly 52a, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Referring to FIGS. 10 through 12, it is preferable, however, to provide an anvil member 53 for selective mounting on the pulling member lower end surface 49 to provide a flat end surface to perform this inserting operation.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, this anvil member 53 is formed with a cylindrical portion 55 providing the lower end surface 54, to which is attached the relatively narrow rectangular portion 56 extending upwardly from cylindrical portion 55 and having a width conforming to the pulling member slot 48 for reception therein. Furthermore, the rectangular portion 56 may be provided with side surfaces formed by the magnets 57 which will releasably hold the rectangular portion within this slot and the cylindrical portion against the pulling member lower end surface 49, as shown in FIG. 11.

A representative spike and heel lift assembly 52a is shown in FIG. 13 including the spike 52 and lift 58, which lift may be formed of any usual material such as rubber, plastic, leather or the like. Spike 52 is normally provided with a lower pointed end 59, a knurled surface 60 intermediate its length and a head portion 61 at its upper end, as shown.

The lift is molded or formed over and around the spike head portion 61 and engaged therewith, and the lift 58 may be formed into substantially the same shape as the end surface of the lift mounting portion 28 of the usual spike heel 26, shown in EEG. 14. Furthermore, heel 26 is formed with the spike opening 62 for receiving the spike 52 therein to finally position lift 58 against and on the lift mounting portion 28 and retain the lift in this position.

In operation of the embodiment of the machine construction of the present invention illustrated, the retaining member 341 is moved to its lowered position, as shown in FIG. 2, and the pulling member it) with the gripping member 41 is moved upwardly away from the holding member 23. The spike heel 26 of a shoe 27 may then be inserted upwardly through the holding member heel opening 24 until the heel engages the heel opening side wall surfaces 25, thereby positioning the heel 26 with the lift mounting portion 2 thereof exposed above the holding member 23.

If desired, the worn lift 58 may be first removed from heel 26 prior to this positioning of the heel, merely by tearing this lift from engagement with the head portion 61 of the spike 52 which is retained within heel 26. The removal of lift 58 is relatively easy in view of the composition thereof and this will expose the head portion 61 of spike 52 above the heel lift mounting portion 28, as shown for instance in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Regardless of whether or not the lift 58 is first removed from heel 26, once the heel is positioned as previously described within the holding member 23, the retaining member 30 is moved upwardly to engage against the lower end of heel 26, thereby securely retaining the heel in holding member 23. Retaining member 36 is secured and held in its raised position by engagement of the pawl 37 with the rack 38 and this retaining member will remain in this position until selectively released by disengaging this pawl and rack.

After the heel 26 is positioned in this manner by the holding member 23 and retaining member 36, the pulling member 46 and gripping member 41 are moved downwardly until the gripping tong members 45 may be engaged with the spike head portion 61, as shown in FIG. 8. Thereafter, upward movement of pulling member 40 transmits an upward pull to the gripping member connecting links 47, causing the tong members 46 to close tightly around the spike head portion 61 and this will be true whether or not the worn lift 58 is still on spike 52.

Further upward movement of pulling member 4f carries the gripping member 41 upwardly, as shown in FIG. 9, and in view of the tight gripping engagement between gripping member 41 and the spike 52, this pulls the spike from the spike opening 62 in the heel 2d. During the removal of the spike 52, the heel 26 is, of course, prevented from moving upwardly by its firm engagement with holding member 23 and also damage to heel 26 by this upward force is prevented, in view of the contoured shape of the holding member heel opening 24 conforming substantially to the shape of heel 26 as well as the padding 29 on the heel opening side wall surfaces 25.

After this spike removing operation is completed, the heel 26 is ready for the mounting thereon of a new spike and lift assembly 52a and, in order to prepare the machine for this operation, the gripping member 41 is pivoted upwardly and engaged by the engagement spring 50, thereby placing the gripping member 41 in an inoperative position and exposing the pulling member lower end surface 49. The anvil member 53 may then be inserted in place on the pulling member 40 with the rectangular portion 56 of this anvil member received in the pulling member slot 43 and the cylindrical portion 55 thereof abutting the pulling member lower end surface 49, thereby providing the anvil member end surface 54.

The new spike and lift assembly 52a is then positioned over the lift mounting portion 28 of heel 26 with the lower pointed end 59 of spike 52 received in the upper part of the heel spike opening 62. The pulling member 40 is then moved downwardly until the anvil member end surface abuts the new lift 58 of this new spike and lift assembly, as shown in FIG. 10.

Thereafter, by continued downward movement of pulling member 41 the new spike and lift assembly 52a is forced downwardly until the total extending length of spike 52 is received within the heel spike opening 62 and the new lift 58 finally abuts the heel lift mounting portion 28, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 10.

This downward force toward and against the heel 26 and lift mounting portion 28 thereof during the insertion of the new spike 52 into the heel is resisted by the end retaining surface 39 of retaining member 31} and, of course, also by the engagement of pawl 37 with rack 38 which prevents retaining member 30 from moving downwardly.

Thus, the heel 26 is provided with a new spike and lift assembly 52a and the only further possible operation required would 'be a slight trimming of the new lift 53 so that it will conform perfectly to the heel lift mounting portion 28. This operation, if required, can of course be accomplished after removal of the heel 26 and shoe 27 upon which the heel is mounted from the confinement by holding member 23 and this is accomplished merely by releasing pawl 37 from the retaining member rack 38, thereby permitting this retaining member 3% to drop downwardly out of engagement with heel 26 and therefore permitting the heel to move downwardly out of the holding member hole 24.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a shoe repair machine construction is provided with which the operation of the removal of the old spike 52 from heel 26 is accomplished without difficulty, since the heel 26 is securely engaged by the holding member 23 resisting the forces away from the heel mounting portion 28 and is retained in such engagement by the retaining member 30 during this removing operation.

Furthermore, the extreme forces required for pulling the spike 52 from heel 26 as well as the necessity of tightly gripping this spike are provided by the gripping member 42, with little human force being required for accomplishing this removal. One important feature of the gripping member 41 to be noted is the particular pivotal connection between holding member 23 and the connecting links 47 as well as between the connecting links 47 and the tong members 46, whereby an upward force from the pulling member tends to cause the tong members to grip more tightly.

Finally, although extreme pulling forces are required to remove the spike 52 from heel 26, the holding of this heel stationary during this removing operation by the holding member 23 will not cause damage to the heel in view of the contoured configuration of the side wall surfaces 25 forming the holding member heel opening 24. Thus, the spike removal operation may be accomplished without damage to heel 26.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof,

and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Shoe repair machine construction for removing a lift retaining spike protruding from the lift mounting portion of a spike heel including, contoured holding means substantially conforming to the shape of a part of a heel for holding said heel with the lift mounting portion of said heel exposed and against forces on said heel at least away from said lift mounting portion, pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and gripping means operably connected to the pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion upon movement of the pulling means toward and away from said lift mounting portion operable for gripping a lift retaining spike protruding from said lift mounting portion to remove said spike from said heel.

2. Shoe repair machine construction for removing a lift retaining spike protruding from the lift mounting portion of a spike heel including, contoured holding means substantially conforming to the shape of a part of a heel for holding said heel with the lift mounting portion of said heel exposed and against forces on said heel at least away from said lift mounting portion, retaining means engageable with the heel when the heel is in the holding means for retaining said heel in said holding means against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion, pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and gripping means operably connected to the pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion upon movement of the pulling means toward and away from said lift mounting portion operable for gripping a lift retaining spike protruding from said lift mounting portion to remove said spike from said heel.

3. Shoe repair machine construction for removing a lift retaining spike protruding from the lift mounting portion of a spike heel including, contoured holding means substantially conforming to the shape of a part of a heel for holding said heel with the lift mounting portion of said heel exposed and against forces on said heel at least away from said lift mounting portion, retaining means selectively movable for engagement with the heel when said heel is held by the holding means to retain said heel in said holding means against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion, pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and gripping means operably connected to the pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion upon movement of the pulling means toward and away from said lift mounting portion operable for gripping a lift retaining spike protruding from said lift mounting portion to remove said spike from said heel.

4. Shoe repair machine construction for removing a lift retaining spike protruding from the lift mounting portion of a spike heel including, a holding member having a contoured hole formed therethrough substantially conforming to the shape of a part of a heel, said holding member hole extending from a large part at one side of the holding member to a small part at the other side of said holding member and receiving the heel therein from said large part to said small part with the heel lift mounting portion exposed and extending from said holding member at said hole small part to hold said heel against forces on said heel at least away from said lift .rounting portion, pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and gripping means operably connected to the pulling means movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion upon movement of the pulling means toward and away 9 from said lift mounting portion o'perable for gripping a lift retaining spike protruding from said lift mounting portion to remove said spike from said heel.

5. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which a retaining member is mounted selectively movable toward and away from the holding member at the side of said holding member having the hole large part and engageable with the heel when said heel is held by said holding member retaining said heel in said holding member hole against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion.

6. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 5 in which the retaining member is mounted with selectively releasable positioning means for positioning the retaining member to hold the heel in the holding member hole.

7. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which the gripping means includes gripping tongs engageable with the lift retaining spike of the heel, and means operably connecting the gripping tongs to the pulling means for closing said tongs on said lift retaining spike upon a pulling force by said pulling means on the tongs away from said heel lift mounting portion.

8. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which the pulling means includes a rod-like pulling member reciprocally mounted movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and operating means for selectively moving said pulling member.

9. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which the pulling means includes a rod-like pulling member reciprocally mounted movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and operating means for selectively moving said pulling member; and in which the gripping means includes gripping tongs engageable with the lift retaining spike of the heel, and link means operably connecting the gripping tongs to the pulling member for closing said tongs on said lift retaining spike upon a pulling force by said pulling member on the link means away from said heel lift mounting portion.

10. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which a retaining member is mounted selectively movable toward and away from the holding member at the side of said holding member having the hole large part and engageable with the heel when said heel is held by said holding member retaining said heel in said holding member hole against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion; and in which the gripping means includes gripping tongs engageable with the lift retaining spike of the heel, and means operably connecting the gripping tongs to the pulling means for closing said tongs on said lift retaining spike upon a pulling force by said pulling means on the tongs away from said heel lift mounting portion.

11. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in Wnich a retaining member is: mounted selectively movable toward and away from the holding member at the side of said holding member having the hole large part and engageable with the heel when said heel is held by said holding member retaining said heel in said holding member hole against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion; and in which the pulling means includes a rod-like pulling member reciprocally mounted movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and operating means for selectively moving said pulling member.

12. Shoe repair machine construction as defined in claim 4 in which a retaining member is mounted selectively movable toward and away from the holding member at the side of said holding member having the hole large part and engageable with the heel when said heel is held by said holding member retaining said heel in said holding member hole against forces directed toward the heel lift mounting portion; in which the pulling means includes a rod-like pulling member reciprocally mounted movable toward and away from the heel lift mounting portion, and operating means for selectively moving said pulling member; and in which the gripping means includes gripping tongs engageable with the lift retaining spike of the heel, and link means operably connecting the gripping tongs to the pulling member for closing said tongs on said lift retaining spike upon a pulling by said pulling member on the link means away from said heel lift mounting portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 619,424 Luckhofif Feb. 14, 1899 1,368,311 Williams Feb. 15, 1921 1,765,885 Scherm June 24, 1930 1,964,984 Gast July 3, 1934 

